Chenille making machine



1951 c. B. WELLER CHENILLE MAKING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 22, 1948 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY CLAN? 5. WELLER BY 5% Qww QN l Nmw Om \M n \NN Q ANN M QWN 3 D gm NOV. 27, 195] c WELLER 2,576,430

CHENILLE MAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 22, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 HHHI 28 ZNVENTOR. 6444/2 B. WELLER BY M% M% NOV. 27, 1951 c W LL R 2,576,430

CHENILLE MAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 22, 1948 10 sheets-sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

CL/lle 5. WELL/5E BY wcem HTTOENEY Nov. 27, 1951 c. B. WELLER 2,576,430

CHENILLE MAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 22, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 lllll INVENTOR/ Cur/ 2 5. WELLER 75 g/ 272 85 BY fimd M HTTOENEY Nov. 27, 1951 c. B. WELLER CHENILLE MAKING MACHINE 6 g MM E t 6 ma M m 4 A WW 0 m W m A Q mm A L w c W Filed Oct. 22, 1948 Nov. 27, 1951 c. B. WELLER 2,576,430

CHENILLE MAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 22, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet v C /2 5. WELL/52 BY HTTOENE) Nov. 27, 1951 Q WELLER I 2,576,430

CHENILLE MAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 22, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 .9 3/ x x I28 /32 Q f we 27/ fi a IN V EN TOR.

/90 Gui/Q B. W5LLEQ Nov. 27, 1951 c. B. WELLER 2,576,430

CHEINILLE MAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 22, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 -Z57 220 O H INVENTOR. Cur/e 5. WELLER BY M A Nov. 27, 1951 c. B. WELLER CHENILLE MAKING MACHINE 1O Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Oct. 22, 1948 q .INVENTOR: Luv/2 5. WtLLER .81

Patented Nov. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHENILLE MAKING MACHINE Clair B. Weller, Burbank, Calif.

Application October 22, 1948, Serial N 0. 55,938

1 Claims.

This invention relates generally to the art of textiles, and more particularly to the manufacture of chenille strands.

An object of this invention is to provide a machine which is structurally characterized by its compactness and its automatic, continuous operation to produce a chenille strand of uniform quality whose structure is preferably, although not necessarily, composed of a core of twisted wires gripping the filaments or threads, and adapted for many products among which are cleaners for smoking pipes and plant and vegetable ties.

Another object of this invention is to provide a chenille machine in which two chenille strands are concurrently produced by using a single former or support on which the filaments such as cotton threads, for example, are wound and fed in the shape of a tube or cylinder as pairs of wires or cords are fed inside and outside of the tube and are twisted as the tube is cut through diametrically between the twisted pairs of wires, to produce the two chenille strands which are then cut into predetermined lengths in synchronism with the making of the strands, all to eifect a continuous operation so long as stock is fed to the machine, whereby to economically produce the finished product.

With these and other objects in view, this invention resides in the combinations, arrangements and functional relationships of elements asset forth in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the'appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the chenille making machine embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a view of the chenille making machine in side elevation;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a detail view showing in front elevation, the stock cut-off mechanism embodied in the machine;

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 6;

Figures 8 and 9 are fragmentary detail sectional views taken, respectively, on the lines 8-8 and 99 of Figure 7;

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the winding and forming mechanisms embodied in the machine;

taken on the line ll-ll of Figure7;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken on the line 2-l2 of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line l3--l3 of Figure 14, and illustrating a twisting and feeding mechanism em-. bodied in the machine;

Figure 14 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line |4l4 of Figure 13;

Figures 15 and 16 are sectional views taken, respectively, on the lines l5-|5 and Iii-46 of Figure 13;

Figure 17 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line l'll1 of Figure 15;

Figures 18 and 19 are horizontal sectional views taken on the lines I Bl8 and 19-49, respectively, of Figure 2;

Figure 20 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 20-20 of Figure 2;

Figure 21 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2I--2I of Figure 20; and

Figure 22 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electrical circuits associated with timing and cut-off mechanisms embodied in the machine.

Referring specifically to the drawings, this invention in its broad aspect, comprises a mechanism A which includes means for forming a tube or cylinder of cotton or other threads, a means for delivering a plurality of wires or cords to the tube as same is being fed, and a means for cutting through the tube diametrically to divide the tube into separate halves for the making of two chenille strands concurrently. A mechanism B synchronized with the mechanism A includes means for feeding the wires or cords and for twisting same to complete the making of the two chenille strands. the control of a timing mechanism D synchronized with the mechanisms A and B, severs the completed chenille strands into predetermined lengths for specific uses.

The mechanisms A, B, C and D, are supported on a base 25, and the mechanism A comprises a bracket 26 fixed to the base and having an opening therethrough in which is fixed one end of a tubular shaft 21, the other end of which rigidly supports a conical head 28 in which is centrally fixed by a set screw 29, a cylindrical support or former 30, the enlarged body portion 3| of which is provided with longitudinal bores 32 and 33 (Figure 11) at diametrically opposed points and terminating at their outer endsin longitudinal grooves 34 and 35, respectively, in the periphery of the former. These grooves are adapted to receive certain wires or cords a and I) used in the making of the chenille strands and fed from suitable reels (not shown) through the bore 36 of the shaft 21. I

A cut-off mechanism C under,

A winding element in the form of a relatively large disk 40 is provided with a hub 4| journaled on the stationary shaft 27 to mount the disk in proximity to the head 28 for rotation about a fixed axis. A pulley 42 is fixed to the hub 4i and is adapted to drive the winding element in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 5 and '7, by means of a belt 43 trained about the pulley 4| and about other pulleys 44 and 45, the former of which is fixed to a countershaft 45 journaled in bearings 41 and 48 carried by arms 49 and 50, respectively, supported by the bracket 26 and by a second bracket 5I fixed to the base 25.

Projecting from the back of the disk 40 at equally'spaced locations circumferentially are posts 55 having transverse bores 56 in which are releasably retained by latches 5'1, pins 58. Rotatably mounted on the pins 58' are spools 55 of thread 60 such as cottomwhich, in the manufacture of cleaners for smoking pipes, are three-thread 1::

strands. In the present instance, three spools are carried by the disk 40, so as to actually wind nine threads of cotton upon the former 33 during the operation of the machine.

- The threads 60 from the spools 59 are passed through guide openings BI in the disk 40 adjacent to the periphery thereof, and then around headed pins 32 from which the threads pass between tensioning plates 63 and 64 (Figure 9) mounted on pins 65 projecting from the front of the disk adjacent to the periphery of the head 20 as shown in Figures 5 and '7. Coil springs I56 are mounted on the pins 65to impose suflicient pressure on the respective plates 64 to maintain the threads taut as they are wound upon the former 30 during rotation of the winding element 40. I

The pulley 45 is fixed to a jack shaft I journaled at one end in the bracket 28, and adjacent to its other end in a bracket II fixed to the base i 25.: Also fixed to the shaft I0 and adjacent to the bracket 'II is a worm I2 constantly meshing with wormgears I3 and I4 fixed to shafts I5 and I6,-respective1y, journaled in bearings I1 and -I8 supported by plates I9 and 80 forming covers removablysecured by screws III and 82 on the open sides of gear cases 83 and 84 .having pairs of cars 85 and 85 by which the cases are pivotal- -ly mounted on the shaft III at opposite ends of the worm I2, for angular adjustment about the axis of the shaft in order not to vary the meshing relationship of the gears I3 and 14 with the worm I2.

At their upper ends the shafts I5 and I6 are provided with feed rollers 93 and BI, respectively, 1

having milled peripheries. Springs 92 and 93 connect the respective gear cases 83 and 84 with the bracket 'II so as to yieldingly urge the cases about the axis of the worm shaft III in directions to force the peripheries of the respective feed rollers 90 and SI into engagement with the convolutions of threadwound upon the former 30, so

that upon rotation of the rollers in the opposite directions indicated by the arrows in Figures V c and :1 used in the making of the chenille strands, which wires are trained over idler pulleys 95 and 91 rotatably mounted by adjustable arms 98 and 99 on the bracket 1 I, and are supplied from suitable reels (not shown) through openings in the base 25.

Guide lugs I00 and IOI supported by the bracket H co-act to confine the shafts I5 and I6 against lateral displacement yet permit the shafts to be swung outwardly and remain in the inactive position shown in broken lines at the left side of Figure '7, upon disconnecting the springs 92 and 33, for unrestricted access to the former 30.

The former 30 is provided with a diametrical slot I05 opening to the outer or free end of the former. As viewed in Figure 12, the length of the slot I05 is perpendicular to a line passing through the grooves 34, 35 and 34, 95 in the former and feed wheels 90, 9|, respectively. Working in the slot I05 is a knife in the form of a wafer type cutting blade I03 which is secured to a bar I07 reciprocably mounted in bearings I08 and I09 projecting from the bracket II. A pin H0 is rigidly secured to the bar I01 to project laterally therefrom and freely through a slot III in the bracket II. A connecting rod H2 is pivotally connected at one end to the pin I I0 and at its other end to a crank pin I I3 carried by a crank II4 fixed to the free end of the jack shaft III, so that rotation of the latter will, by a crank motion, rapidly reciprocate the cutting blade I06 to out diametrically through the tube of threads wound on the former 30 as the tube is fed axially thereon by the feed rollers 90 and SI into the cutting edge of the blade.

The mechanism B comprises two identical feeding and twisting elements'IZII and Ia which are identical in construction except for being relatively right and left hand. These elements are arranged side by side in close proximity, and are mounted for rotation upon spaced parallel axes at a distance from the mechanism A. Like reference characters will be used to designate like parts of the two elements I20 and I20a, with the parts of one element provided with exponents to distinguish them from the parts of the other element.

Each of the elements I20 and I20a comprises a tube I25, Ia rigidly secured to a support I26, which latter is secured to the bracket 5| by bolts I2'I (Figure 2). An open-ended cylindrical shell I28 is secured by screws I29 and I30 to end plates I3I and I32, respectively, for eo-action therewith in providing a cylindrical case enclosing the moving parts of the mechanism. The plate I32 is provided with a flanged pulley I33 by which the respective element may be rotated on bearings I34 and I35 supported on the tube I25 and in the plate I32 and in a retainer plate I36 which abuts the inner face of the plate I32.

A sun gear I40 is fixed to the stationary tube I25 and constantly meshes with identical planetary gears MI and I42 fixed to shafts I43 and I44, respectively, journaled at one end in bearings I45 and I46 in the plate I32, and at the other end in bearings I41 and I48 in the outer ends of bearing sleeves I49 and I50 supported in'alined openings in the end plate I3I and retainer plate I36, respectively. Heads I5! and I52 on the inner ends of the respective bearing sleeves I49 and I50 co-act with the retainer plate I36 to confine the sleeves against axial displacement towards the end plate I 3I, and the heads I5I and I52 are provided with arcuate cut-outs I53 and I54 (Figure 17) which co-act with the periphery of the bearin I35 in preventing rotation of the sleeves about their own axes.

Fixed to the shafts I43 and I44 within the respective bearing sleeves I49 and I50 are worms I60 and IBI, respectively, which constantly mesh with worm gears I62 and I63 projectin into the respective bearing sleeves through slots I64 and I65 therein. The worm gears I62 and I 53 are fixed to shafts I66 and I61 journaled in bearings I68 and I69 in the sections of two-part gear boxes I and HI which constitute arms. The parts of the boxes I10 and I1I are secured together by screws I12 and I13 and are provided on their confronting sides with semi-circular recesses I14 and I (Figure 13) receiving the respective bearing'sleeves I49 and I50 to mount the boxes thereon for pivotal movement about the axes of the respective shafts I43 and I44.

The shafts I66 and IE1 are extended in opposite directions from the respective boxes H0 and HI and have fixed thereto feed wheels I80 and I BI whose milled peripheries are directly opposed for co-action in engaging a chenille strand entering the element I through a guide tube I82, for feedin of the strand through the tube I25. Springs I83 and I84 connect the respective boxes I10 and HI to the plate I36 for co-action in urging the feed wheels I83 and ISI into gripping engagement with the chenille strand, so that upon rotation of the elements I20 and I20a in the opposite directions indicated by the arrows in Figure 13, the pairs of feed wheels I89, IBI and IBM, I8Ia of the respective elements will be rotated in the opposed directions indicated by the arrows in Figure 14, so as to feed as well as twist the wires or cords forming the core of each chenille strand, in a manner to be later described.

A main driving belt I90 is trained about the pulley I33 and is adapted to be driven from a suitable source of power such as an electric 'motor (not shown), to drive the element I 20, whose rotation is transmitted through pins I9! to a gear I92 rotatably mounted on the tube I within a housing I93 and constantly meshing with an identical gear I92a rotatably mounted on the tube I25a and transmitting its rotational move- 'ment to the element I29a through pins IBIa, all

as clearly shown in Figure 14. A second driving belt I95 is trained about the pulley I330, of the element I20a and about a pulley I96 fixed to the countershaft 45 to drive the latter and hence the windin disk 40 and feed rollers 90 and 91 in synchronism with the elements I20 and !20a.

The cut-off mechanism C comprises a support 200 through which project the outlet ends of the between the shearing edges of the blades.

By means of a link 2I0 the movable blade 202 is operativelyconnected to the core 2! I of a solenoid 2I2 fixed to the support 200. Current from a suitable source of supply may be delivered to the solenoids 2I2 of the units U and U momentarily and alternately under the control of the timing mechanism D which comprises a housing including a body section 220 an'd-a removable cover 22I closing the open top thereof. A drive shaft 222 is journaled in bearings in the opposed side walls 223 and 224 of the body section 220, and has fixed thereto exteriorly of the latter a worm gear 225 with which meshes a worm 226 fixed to the projectin end portion of the countershaft 46 which is additionally supported by a bearing 221 on the body section 220, all so as to drive the shaft 222 in synchronism with the mechanisms A and B.

A friction roller 230 is splined on the shaft 222 by means of a longitudinal groove 23I therein and a pin 232 entering the groove from the hub of the roller, for adjustment of the roller radially across the face of a friction disk 233 supported by a shaft 234 in a bearing 235 rising from the'bottom of the body section 220. A coil Spring 236 surrounding the bearing 235 urges the disk 233 axially into firm engagement with the periphery of the driving roller 230 so as to drive the disk at various angular velocities in accordance with the adjustment of the roller across the face of the disk.

For this adjustment a yoke 240 works in an annular groove MI in the hub of the roller 230 and has a pin and slot connection 242 with an ad justing member in the form of a lever 243 pivoted at one end on a pin 244 on the body section 220 and projecting from the housing through a recess 245 in the body section to provide a handle by which the lever can be shifted to various positions in accordance with indicia 246 (Figure 1) on the cover 22I designating various lengths in inches and a co-acting index graduation 241 on the lever. A locking member for releasably retaining the lever 243 in any selected position of adjustment is in the form of a screw 248 threaded into the lever 243 and working freely in an arcuate slot 249 in the cover 22 I, with the screw having a knurled knob 250 by which it can be manipulated to clamp the lever to the cover or releas the lever as desired.

Projecting from the disk 233 in parallelism with the axis thereof is a pin 255, which, during its circle of revolution as the disk is rotated, momentarily wipes against and closes the movable contacts of conventional spring-opened micro switches 256 and 251 arranged degrees apart in the body section 220 for the switches to be alternately closed. The switches 25;; and 251 are arranged in electrical circuits to respectively energize the solenoids 2I2, which circuits include a conductor 253 from the line to one contact of both switches; conductors 259 and 260 from the other contact of the switches to one end of the windings of the respective solenoids; and a conductor 261 from the other end of the windings of the respective solenoids back to the line, all as clearly shown in Figure 22.

The operation of the invention is as follows:

Assuming that the product to be made on the machine is for cleaning smoking pipes or ties for plants and vegetables, thenthe flexible members a, b, c and d will be relatively fine and somewhat stifi wires. However, it will be understood that in making other products, these flexible members might be of other material, and this disclosure and claims are therefore to be broadly construed accordingly. As chenille cleaners for smoking pipes are generally of a definite predetermined length such as six inches, for example, the lever 243 is adjusted and locked in the position wherein its graduation 241 is alined with the number 6 of the indicia 243 on the cover 22I. H 7

For the making of pipe cleaner chenille, the

spools 59 of cotton thread or other material are mounted on the winding element 40 and the threads 56 from the respective spools are passed through the guide openings 6!, then around the guide pins 62 and between the tensioning plates 63 and 64..

With the springs 92 and 93 disconnected and the shafts l and I6 swung to the inactive position shown in broken lines at the left side of Figure 7, the former 30 may be removed from the head 23 to permit the two wires a and b to be passed through the bore 36 of the shaft 2? andthen through the bores 32 and 33 of the former 30, after which same is replaced in the head 28. The wires a and I) are pulled through the former 3G sufficiently for them to be inserted through the guide sleeves I85 and I85a, respectively, of the respective feeding and twisting elements I29 and 129a, the wire a being forced between the pair of feed wheels I88, ill! of the element 32%, and the wire bbetween the pair of feed wheels iBta, [Bla of the element IZQa.

The ends of the threads (it? from the three spools 59 are now started on the former 38 by being wound by hand thereon in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 5. The wires 0 and d are trained about the idler pulleys 25 and 9'! and then about the feed rollers 98 and as the shafts 1'5 and are returned to the active position of the feed rollers shown in full lines in Figure 7, after which the springs 92 and 93 are reconnected to urge the milled peripheries of the feed rollers into feeding engagement'with the convolutions of the threads 66 which have been wound by hand on the former 39 over the wires a and b in the longitudinal grooves 34 and 35 in the former. The wires 0 and d will now be held by the feed rollers 98 and 9| against the outside of the convolutions of the threads 60 on the former directly opposite the wires a and b, respectively.

The wires 0 and d are now pulled sufficiently beyond the feed rollers 90 and 9! for the wire 0 to be inserted through the guide sleeve I35 of the feeding and twisting element I25 and forced between the pair of feed wheels I80, as: alongside of the wire a, and for the wire it to be in serted through the guide sleeve 185a of the element [a and forced between the pair of feed wheels I8Ha, I8la alongside of the wire b.

Power is now applied to the belt I90 to drive the machine. As the winding disk 40 rotates in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 5 the threads 60 are wound on the former 39 and are fed axially thereon towards the rapidly reciprocating cutting blade I05, concurrently with which the wires a and c which are being gripped between the feed wheels I86 and I8! of the element I20, will be advanced through the tube I by the rotational movement of these feed wheels and will be twisted by the revolving motions thereof in response to the rotational movement of the element 129. Simultaneously, the wires 2) and d, which are likewise being gripped between the feed wheels I80a and mm of the element 129a, will be advanced through the tube [25a by the rotational movement of these feed wheels and will be twisted by the revolving motions thereof by the feed rollers. 99 and Sl towardsth'e'. cutting blade I06, so that upon reaching the latter, the tube will be cut through diametrically thereby medially between the gripped points of the tube.

As the twisting of the wires of each pair a, c and b, d starts at a point approximately opposite the cutting edge of the blade I06 as shown in Figure 11, the severed halves of the thread tube on the. former 30 will be tightly gripped between the twisted pairs of wires and will project equally from opposite sides thereof to form the two chenille strands S and S. It will be noted that the mechanism B does not exert any pull upon the chenille strands S and S, but is synchronized with the mechanism A to advance the strands at the same speed as they leave the mechanism A, so that in effect, slack is being continuously taken up and the strands maintained taut with a predetermined amount of twist sufficiently to securely grip the several threads between the respective pairs of wires, being imparted to the wires by the mechanism B.

As the completed chenille strands are advanced through the tubes I25 and |25a between the blades 20! 202 of the units U and U, the movable blades 282 are alternately actuated by the solenoids 2 l2 in response to closing of the micro switches 256 and 251 by the pin 255 of the timing mechanism D, so as to out each chenille strand into six inch lengths in accordance with the adjustment of the lever 24 3.

From the foregoing description, it will be manlfest that the two chenille strands S and S are produced in a continuous operation and are cut into predetermined lengths automatically so as to obtain maximum einciency and economy in manufacturing the product, and that the compactness of the machine reduces to a minimum the floor space necessary for its installation, all to the end of enabling the product to be profitably marketed for a wide variety of users at a low cost.

It will be clearly understood that the term wires as applied to the members a, b, c, d in describing the use of the machine for the manufacture of chenille strands for smoking pipe cleaners, plant ties and other products requiring the functional characteristics of metallic wires. is to be broadly construed where used in the claims, as covering any form of cord, thread, or other flexible member which would be used to form the chenille strand.

I claim:

1. In a chenille making machine, means for supporting thread in tube formation; means for winding thread on the first means; means for axially feeding convolutions of thread as wound on the first means so as to produce a tube of thread thereon; means for supporting pairs of wires at diametrically opposed points with respect to the thread tube, with one wire of each pair inside the tube and the other wire of each pair outside the tube; means for cutting through the thread tube diametrically and medially between the pairs of wires as the tube is being fed longitudinally; means for feeding and twisting the pairs of wires to medially grip the severed halves of the thread tube between the wires of the respective pairs; whereby to produce two chenille strands; cut-off devices, one for each chenille strand, receiving the respective strands from said feeding and twisting means; timing mechanism operable in synchronism with the feeding of the chenille strands; and means controlled by said timing mechanism, for actuating spect to the thread tube, with one wire of each 1:;

pair inside the tube and the other wire of each pair outside the tube; means for cutting through the thread tube diametrically and medially between the pairs of wires as the tube is being fed longitudinally; means for feeding and twisting the pairs of wires to medially grip the severed halves of the thread tube between the wires of the respective pairs, whereby to produce two chenille strands; cut-off units, one for each chenille strand and including electro-responsive devices; and timing mechanism operatively associated with said feeding and twisting means to be driven in synchronism therewith; said timing mechanism including electric switches in circuit with a source of current supply and with said electro-responsive devices to actuate the respective cut-off units and cut the chenille strands into predetermined lengths.

3. In a chenille making machine, a tubular,

stationary shaft; a former projecting from said shaft at one end thereof and having longitudinal grooves at opposed locations in the periphery thereof adapted to receive wires from the bore of said shaft; a winding element adapted to carry a supply of thread and being rotatably mounted on said shaft for windin of thread on said former; feed rollers; shafts to which said rollers are fixed; means mounting said shafts for rotation and for angular adjustment about a common fixed axis to dispose the feed rollers in an W active position wherein their peripheries are adapted to engage a thread tube on said former, or an inactive position to permit access to said former; means urging said shafts about said axis to engage said rollers with the thread tube; means for driving said rollers in synchronism with said winding element to feed convolutions of thread axially on said former so as to produce a tube of thread movin longitudinally thereon; means for supporting other wires outside the thread tube in juxtaposition to the wires inside the tube; means for cutting through the thread tube diametrically as the tube is being fed on said former; and means for feeding and twisting each inside wire and the respective outside wire together so that same will grip a half of the thread tube to produce a chenille strand.

4. In a chenille making machine, a tubular, stationary shaft; a former projecting from said shaft at one end thereof and having longitudinal grooves at opposed locations in the periphery thereof adapted to receive wires from the bore of said shaft; a windin element adapted to carry a supply of thread and being rotatably mounted on said shaft for winding of thread on said former; feed rollers; shafts to which said rollers are fixed; means mounting said shafts for rotation and for angular adjustment about a common fixed axis to dispose the feed rollers in an active position wherein their peripheries are adapted to engage a thread tube on said former, or an inactive position to permit access to said former; means urging said shafts about said axis to engage said rollers with the thread tube; a driving gear mounted for rotation about said fixed axis and driven in synchronism with said winding element; driven gears fixed to said feed roller shafts and meshing with said driving gear to effect feeding of the convolutions of thread on said former by the feed rollers and thereby produce a tube of thread moving longitudinally on said former; said rollers having circumferential grooves adapted to receive other wires to support same outside the thread tube in juxtaposition to said wires inside the tube; means for cutting through the thread tube diametrically as the tube is being fed on said former; and means for feeding and twisting each inside wire and the respective outside wire together so that same will grip a half of the thread tube to produce a chenille strand.

5. In a chenille making machine, a tubular, stationary shaft; a former projecting from one end of said shaft and having longitudinal grooves at opposed locations in the periphery thereof adapted to receive wires from the bore of said shaft; a winding element adapted to carry a supply of thread and being rotatably mounted on said shaft for winding of thread on said former; feed rollers; shafts to which said rollers are fixed; means mounting said shafts for rotation and for angular adjustment about a common fixed axis to dispose the feed rollers in an active position wherein their peripheries are adapted to engage a thread tube on said former, or an inactive position to permit access to said former; means urging said shafts about said axis to engage said rollers with the thread tube; a driving gear mounted for rotation about said fixed axis and driven in synchronism with said winding element; driven gears fixed to said feed roller shafts and meshing with said driving gear to effect feeding of the convolutions of thread on said former by the feed rollers and thereby produce a tube of thread moving longitudinally on said former; said rollers having circumferential grooves adapted to receive other wires to support same outside the thread tube in juxtaposition to said wires inside the tube; said former having a diametric slot; a cutting blade mounted for reciprocating movement and working in said slot; a crank fixed to said driving gear; a connecting rod between said crank and cutting blade for actuating same to cut through the thread tube as it is being fed on said former; and means for feeding and twisting each inside wire and the respective outside wire together so that same will grip a half of the thread tube to produce a chenille strand.

CLAIR B. WELLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Wilmsen Dec. 13, 1949 

